Exchange City
Comments
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MnSusan. So glad everything is well. Healing hugs to all.
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2nd time: thanks for the advice! I will heed your words of asking and accepting help (which is very hard for me!). I have plenty of friends and family offering all the time. I'm just stubborn and independent and like to do things on my own. I don't want to risk doing any damage before I'm fully healed. So I'll do a good job of listening to my PS and my body.
Oh no how did u slip and fall? Did u fall and try to catch yourself on your arms? Hope you are feeling better and are recovering well!
Do you feel almost back to normal at 4 wks?
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Hwhranch: thanks for the advice. I'm glad to hear you were up and about a few days post op. I'm hoping I recover quickly too and can at least work from home a few days a week a couple days after exchange.
Just now getting caught up on everything at work from being out in February with BMX. Don't wanna overdo things at all but wanna get back to working as soon as I feel up to it.
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Hwranch, it is good to hear you sing the praises of your PS, since he's mine, too (small world), and I agree that he's wonderful.
I haven't been on here as much lately, and it has been so heartwarming to read about the recent exchanges! Congrats to all of you! It is also wonderful to see the support given to those who need reassurance or just need to vent. What a wonderful group of ladies.
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Wow, I feel good this morning. Without thinking, I stretched up and scratched the back of my neck - nothing. Yay! I don't need to be a hero, though. If it hurts, I'll swallow the pills.
PS said that my left breast, the cancer side and the side that had a couple of dark red episodes that were treated with antibiotics over the winter, had a bunch of "gunk" in it and she had to clean it out pretty well. She said she was pretty sure it was infection, so she changed out her gloves, etc intraop. I can't imagine what the "gunk" would be - doesn't your body absorb stuff?
Oh, I forgot to tell you ladies.... I've named the new girls Laverne and Shirley. I think DH's private bits will be called Lenny and Squiggy. Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!!
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lol MnsUsan. I loved that show. So glad u are feeling so good. that gives me hope.
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I called the PS yesterday to see if I could get the drains out today and he agreed so should be a more comfortable weekend.
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Tigger... Woo-hoo! Yay! Best way to start the weekend! That will be a great office visit. Let us know how it goes.
Susan... Thanks for the laugh and memory this morning!
Melmcbee... Love the new avatar! Your hair is growing back so pretty!0 -
I hope everyone is healing well and that you can all do something that you really enjoy this weekend. I am so excited to join you in the land of the squishies next week. Happy Friday!
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Romney---Funny but my PS also said no droop when I was preparing for exchange surgery. I just saw him last week for my 7 week followup and he was pleasantly surprised over the droop I've achieved. I match exactly in a bra but am a little off when nekkid! He measured me to see where the nipple would go if we did the surgery now and said it would be a little below the scar but by the fall when I plan to actually do the surgery, he thinks the nipple will be just above the scar which is where he'd hoped it would end up. So even though they may say no droop, don't be surprised if you get some. He also told me regular massage would help it droop. So I'm hoping by Nov the new boob and the refurbished boob will be just about even, although I have to say they are pretty damn close and I'm pretty damn happy already. And tightness is slowly loosening thanks to lots of OT and hopefully will be even better when I start getting massages!! Hope yours end up just as good!
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Carroll2, OMG, I am so sorry that you lost your mom. I lost my parents in the past few yrs. I never go to the graves and I dont put up pictures of them. My cousins gave me some photoes of my mom when she was young and my fiance gave me a nice frame for it. I dont even know where it is. I cant bring myself to look at the photoes. My Dad tried to get me to help pick out a gravesite after she passed from ovarian cancer but I told him I just couldnt handle all that. I guess my sister never forgave me for that. She has not spoken to me since my Dad passed. My uncle said he sent her a Xmas card but it came back. I told him I was sorry things got that way.
So my mom was not around when I was diagnosed. However,the doctors had been telling me for 10 yrs to get a bmx cause they didnt like the mammogram. I told them I was not having any surgery unless I definitely got BC. However,I was followed closely and glad we caught it early.
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To all you ladies who have had TE's...
I had my TE's put in 2 1/2 weeks ago and today they fully expanded me to 400cc... My breasts feel as hard as a rock and feel like they are going to bust out of my skin. I am sure this is normal but need a little reassurance.Did everyone feel the same way with their TE's when fully expanded?
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Hi Chantel - Yes, I absolutely had the same experience! They really do end up feeling like coconut shells...my PS did some over-filling and they became even harder. Strangely, I ended up getting fairly used to them after a few weeks and then ended up being nervous about doing my implant exchange.
I am hoping that you are not in too much pain or discomfort...take care!0 -
Chantel, ABSOLUTELY! Especially day of expansion when everything hadn't had a chance to stretch. I would take acetaminophen and flexeril (muscle relaxer) right after I got home. A heating pad on low on my back seemed to help. 400 cc's in 2-1/2 weeks? That seems quick to me. My PS's nurse told me they could always take a little out. I started out with 150 in one, 250 the other and it took almost 2 months to get to the 400 range (took me about 4 months to reach my end result of 720 in 700 TE's). One time did 160 cc each in one office visit, felt I was about to burst; never did that again. How long do you wait for exchange?
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Chantel, yes you have to go through the rock stage before you can get to the wonderful squishy stage. I had a hard time believing the squishy stage would be that much different but after this week I am a believer. Be patient hopefully you will swap the rocks out soon. I had my TEs in for 6 months.
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Today is day 9 with my new implants (mentor gel smooth HP 650cc). I have almost no pain. The swelling is down a lot. I have one side that is higher than the other. I am hoping that will drop down. Do they become more round with time? They seems to have some flatness to them. I thought they would be really round. I am having a hard time with them being so soft. I feel funny without my hard te's
. Do they stay the same size or do they become a lot smaller with time? I am hoping they stay the same size. How long before stitches start coming out? My tape is still over my stitches, my PS said it will fall off. I saw my PS 5 days after surgery and he said to come back in 5 weeks. I just try not to over due, when you feel good sometimes you can over do without thinking. I am wearing a sports bra. I came home in one of the bulky velcro hospital bras. Love to hear from anyone who is in the exchange faze. 0 -
Hi Coffee I am day 6 out and loving the squishies compared to the rocks.I got the drains out yesterday so much more comfortable. Loving the ability to go braless after all these years.
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Chantel: 400cc in 2 1/2 weeks seems like a lot really fast to me too! I was filled to 100cc in each at time of placement and didn't have another fill until 2 weeks later. My PS did 100cc fills 3 weeks in a row until I figured out (with the help of the TE pain thread on this site) that's why I was miserable
. We cut down to 50cc fills about every week. With some time out for holidays, spring break vacation and other scheduling issues I finished up in mid-april with 750cc (over-expanded by 150cc). They're pretty firm after the over-expansion but before that they were actually feeling a bit soft. I've had mine in since 11-5-12 and expect exchange in August. No problems sleeping on my side. Stomach sleeping i still out just because they're so hard. They don't hurt, it's just that it's like I've got a couple of grapefruit between me and the mattress!0 -
Hi all. I had my pre-op appt. yesterday and was starting to get a little depressed a few weeks ago when I realized I wouldn't be able to go much bigger than what my TE's were filled to (500cc). But when the PS explained it was due to my many years of being a diabetic, almost 40 years, he really didn't want to over do it and create complications that might arise. He is an awesome PS and I fully trust him. He said he ordered several larger sizes than 500cc, mostly allergan style 15 at 533cc, 575cc and I can't remember what else but he said he would make certain I had the best outcome. I'm happy with my TE size, but of course started to panic when I learned the squishies can appear smaller than the TE's. I'm still very excited to get this over with and fully trust the PS and his staff. He assured me I'll be happy with the outcome so I can't ask for much more
Hey hey Violet - we're on our way!!!!!!
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Lorij, Violet, Thirdgeneration and Sciencegal... Your exchange is almost here! So exciting! Wishing you all the best. Sending healing prayers, thoughts and hugs your way. Please keep us posted.
Lori, it's so important you trust your PS who has your health and best interests in mind. 4 weeks out from exchange yesterday for me. To be honest, initially just after surgery I wasn't happy with the results, part of which I think was a let down of sorts that it was almost over (had read its like a PTSD effect after all we've been through plus maybe a SE of pain meds). At first they looked like the dreaded hamburger bun thing. Ladies here said to wait and be patient, great words of advice. They're slowly looking better (can't happen soon enough for me!) and I'm realizing they're definitely not flat any more. Ladies here and PS all said to continue to wait and be patient, the coming months will show an improvement. Being patient at this point is getting easier. Above all for me, SO much better than without recon!0 -
I agree, 2nd_time. Thanks to the ladies here who have shared their experiences, my expectations for the new squishes were just where they needed to be. I had my "unveiling" yesterday and yes, they look a bit like hamburger buns - they're also pretty swollen and there's some bruising. My PS said it might take as long as 3 months to completely settle in, and I'm good with that. I'm wearing a soft sports bra and its comfortable, and clothes look okay. Things will just get better from here!
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Thank you Gals!
I am feeling a little better today- last night I was panicking because my expanders feel SO HARD it doesn't even seem possible that my muscle and skin can withstand it. But reading your posts make me feel a lot better. Thank heavens for this site! It is so reassuring to hear from other women who have gone through it.Can't wait to get the squishies! I cannot imagine getting used to this feel.
Have a great day everyone!0 -
Coffee4me, Congrats on the squishies. My PS used Mentor also. I got the next smaller size of 550 instead of 650. Yep,mine were hamburger buns,white wrinkled steamed,round when I first got them. They look nice now which it has been since Aug 2012. One got cap contract so new PS says she will fix that during the nip surg since I told her I wanted general anes. I know that kind is riskier but I dont want the memories of being in an operating room. Where I go, you get IV sedation and you fall asleep and next thing you know you wake up groggy in the waiting room. It adds new meaning to the term Hangover III. lol..
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SHELLSHINE---->
How are you doing with your new squishys and those new eyelids?....haven't heard from you in a while.
Di
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Thanks Layla, sorry your in the same boat but thanks for peddeling along with me . . .
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chantel..i had TEs for almost 5 mos..definitely got better after my last fill, but i alwaus hurt after my fills of 50cc..ribs hurt, upper back, neck, and chest..initially i took hydrocodone after first few fills, but then just ibuprofen and heating pad to my upper back..i also started frequent stetching of pecs and it helped a lot..n even does post exchange...it absolutely will get better!!!
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Question about after-exchange massage: do more PS's encourage fluff & drop massage or not? Mine doesn't think it helps, not sure if this would help mine to shape up foobs any quicker. They're much better but one has a more natural shape while the other is still retaining a little bit of the hamburger bun shape. The look is definitely an improvement overall though. If massage helps, would be willing to try it (though I've seen some stuff on the Internet and it looks a little uncomfortable). Thanks for weighing in with your opinions!
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2ndtime-I've been wondering the same thing as my PS never said anything until I asked. She said I could do circles as they made the most sense to her. But admitted there's nothing scientific regarding it. One is still pretty big,the other shrunk considerably. It's been 3 weeks and I've tried massaging but they seem pretty happy to stay put. Little hard to move them,maybe the pockets are really tight around them???
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I think massaging just keeps the implant mobile in the pocket. It is to prevent capsular contraction which is when the scar tissue wraps around the implant and gives a stiff or hard feeling. I had this with my TE my PS had to remove all the scar tissue before isnerting the implant. My PS had me do massage but not right away, only after I was healed. You don't want to open the sutures, they may look healed outside but take time inside. I did it 5x a day for the longest time It's been over a year since I got my implants I only do it 1x in the shower now. They are nice and soft.
Be sure to ask your PS this question every case is different.
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My ladies congrats on all your exchanges .... Just had a quit question .... Has anyone here had any cellulitis whith there TE ??? Please help I don't know what to do ... It's the second time I have it???
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